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Nikon D500 vs Panasonic S5

The Nikon D500 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2016 and September 2020. The D500 is a DSLR, while the S5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (D500) and a full frame (S5) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, whereas the Panasonic provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Nikon D500
versus
Panasonic S5
Nikon D500   Panasonic S5
Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
Nikon F mount lenses Leica L mount lenses
20.7 MP – APS-C sensor 24 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/30p Video 4K/60p Video
ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 1,640,000) ISO 100-51,200 (50 - 204,800)
Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder (2360k dots)
3.2" LCD – 2359k dots 3.0" LCD – 1840k dots
Tilting touchscreen Swivel touchscreen
10 shutter flaps per second 7 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
Weathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
1240 shots per battery charge440 shots per battery charge
147 x 115 x 81 mm, 860 g 133 x 98 x 82 mm, 714 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon D500 and the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon D500 and the Panasonic S5. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Nikon D500 vs Panasonic S5
Compare D500 versus S5 top
Comparison D500 or S5 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Panasonic S5 is notably smaller (23 percent) than the Nikon D500. Moreover, the S5 is markedly lighter (17 percent) than the D500. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the D500 gets 1240 shots out of its Nikon EN-EL15 battery, while the S5 can take 440 images on a single charge of its Panasonic DMW-BLK22 power pack. The power pack in the S5 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D500 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 860 g 1240 Y Jan 2016 EUR 2 399ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic S5 133 mm 98 mm 82 mm 714 g 440 Y Sep 2020 EUR 1 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II 144 mm 111 mm 75 mm 765 g 1200 Y Jun 2017 EUR 2 099 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 80D 139 mm 105 mm 79 mm 730 g 960 Y Feb 2016 EUR 1 285ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D300S 147 mm 115 mm 81 mm 938 g 950 Y Jul 2009 EUR 1 399ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D600 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Sep 2012 EUR 2 149ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D610 141 mm 113 mm 82 mm 850 g 900 Y Oct 2013 EUR 1 949ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D750 141 mm 113 mm 78 mm 750 g 1230 Y Sep 2014 EUR 2 149ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D7100 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 950 Y Feb 2013 EUR 1 179ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D7200 136 mm 107 mm 76 mm 765 g 1110 Y Mar 2015 EUR 1 179ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D7500 136 mm 104 mm 73 mm 720 g 950 Y Apr 2017 EUR 1 499 amazon.com
12.
 
Panasonic G9 137 mm 97 mm 92 mm 658 g 400 Y Nov 2017 EUR 1 699ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GH5 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 725 g 410 Y Jan 2017 EUR 1 999ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GH5 II 139 mm 98 mm 87 mm 727 g 400 Y May 2021 EUR 1 699 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic S1 149 mm 110 mm 97 mm 1017 g 400 Y Feb 2019 EUR 2 499 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic S5 II 134 mm 102 mm 90 mm 740 g 370 Y Jan 2023 EUR 2 199 amazon.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon D500 features an APS-C sensor and the Panasonic S5 a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the S5 is 130 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.5 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon D500 and Panasonic S5 sensor measures

With 24MP, the S5 offers a higher resolution than the D500 (20.7MP), but the S5 nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.94μm versus 4.22μm for the D500) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the S5 is a much more recent model (by 4 years and 7 months) than the D500, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Panasonic S5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the S5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D500 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm for excellent quality prints.

Unlike the D500, the S5 has the capacity to capture high quality composite images (96MP) by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Nikon D500 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 51200, which can be extended to ISO 50-1640000. The corresponding ISO settings for the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 are ISO 100 to ISO 51200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-204800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

D500 versus S5 MP

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. Of the two cameras under consideration, the S5 offers substantially better image quality than the D500 (overall score 11 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.1 bits higher color depth, 0.5 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon D500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.014.0132483
2.
 
Panasonic S5 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.114.5269794
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II Full Frame 26.0 6240 41601080/60p24.411.9286285
4.
 
Canon 80D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p23.613.2113579
5.
 
Nikon D300S APS-C 12.2 4288 2848720/24p22.512.278770
6.
 
Nikon D600 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.2298094
7.
 
Nikon D610 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/30p25.114.4292594
8.
 
Nikon D750 Full Frame 24.2 6016 40161080/60p24.814.5295693
9.
 
Nikon D7100 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.213.7125683
10.
 
Nikon D7200 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/60p24.514.6133387
11.
 
Nikon D7500 APS-C 20.7 5568 37124K/30p24.314.0148386
12.
 
Panasonic G9 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.112.8113874
13.
 
Panasonic GH5 Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.913.080777
14.
 
Panasonic GH5 II Four Thirds 20.2 5184 38884K/60p23.713.1113679
15.
 
Panasonic S1 Full Frame 24.0 6000 40004K/60p25.214.5333395
16.
 
Panasonic S5 II Full Frame 24.0 6000 40006K/30p25.414.6315896
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the S5 provides a faster frame rate than the D500. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/60p, while the Nikon is limited to 4K/30p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. For example, the S5 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the D500 has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the S5 has a higher magnification than the one of the D500 (0.74x vs 0.67x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Nikon D500, the Panasonic S5, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon D500optical Y3.2 / 2359 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n n
2.
 
Panasonic S52360 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s n Y
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark IIoptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 6.5/s n n
4.
 
Canon 80Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
5.
 
Nikon D300Soptical Y3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/8000s 7.0/s Y n
6.
 
Nikon D600optical Y3.0 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 5.5/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon D610optical Y3.2 / 921 fixed n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
8.
 
Nikon D750optical Y3.2 / 1229 tilting n 1/4000s 6.0/s Y n
9.
 
Nikon D7100optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
10.
 
Nikon D7200optical Y3.2 / 1229 fixed n 1/8000s 6.0/s Y n
11.
 
Nikon D7500optical Y3.2 / 922 tilting Y 1/8000s 8.0/s Y n
12.
 
Panasonic G93680 Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/8000s 20.0/s n Y
13.
 
Panasonic GH53680 n3.2 / 1620 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
14.
 
Panasonic GH5 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
15.
 
Panasonic S15760 Y3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n Y
16.
 
Panasonic S5 II3680 n3.0 / 1840 swivel Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One feature that is present on the D500, but is missing on the S5 is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The S5 has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies. In contrast, the D500 does not have a selfie-screen.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the S5 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon D500 and the Panasonic S5 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The D500 writes its imaging data to SDXC or XQD cards, while the S5 uses SDXC cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. Both the D500 and the S5 support UHS-II cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s (the second slot of the S5 only offers slower UHS-I transfer rates, though).

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon D500 and Panasonic Lumix DC-S5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon D500Ystereo / monoYYmini3.0YYY
2.
 
Panasonic S5Ystereo / monoYYmicro3.2Y-Y
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark IIYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YYY
4.
 
Canon 80DYstereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
5.
 
Nikon D300SYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Nikon D600Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
7.
 
Nikon D610Ymono / monoYYmini2.0---
8.
 
Nikon D750Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y--
9.
 
Nikon D7100Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0---
10.
 
Nikon D7200Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0YY-
11.
 
Nikon D7500Ystereo / monoYYmini2.0Y-Y
12.
 
Panasonic G9Ystereo / monoYYfull3.0Y-Y
13.
 
Panasonic GH5Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
14.
 
Panasonic GH5 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y
15.
 
Panasonic S1Ystereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
16.
 
Panasonic S5 IIYstereo / monoYYfull3.2Y-Y

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Nikon D500 (unlike the S5) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

The S5 is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Panasonic. In contrast, the D500 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the D500 from Nikon. Further information on the features and operation of the D500 and S5 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon D500 Manual (free pdf) or the online Panasonic S5 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon D500 or the Panasonic S5 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

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Reasons to prefer the Nikon D500:

  • Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
  • Easier setting verification: Features an LCD display on top to control shooting parameters.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2359k vs 1840k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 7 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (1240 versus 440) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2016).

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Arguments in favor of the Panasonic Lumix DC-S5:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (24 vs 20.7MP), which boosts linear resolution by 8%.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (11 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
  • Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.1 bits more color depth).
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1 stops ISO advantage).
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (4K/60p versus 4K/30p).
  • More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.74x vs 0.67x).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (133x98mm vs 147x115mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 146g or 17 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 7 months of technical progress since the D500 launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the S5 is the clear winner of the contest (17 : 9 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

D500 09:17 S5

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon D500 and the Panasonic S5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the D500 or the S5 perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon D5005/5+ +4.7/591/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2016 EUR 2 399ebay.com
2.
 
Panasonic S54.5/5+ +4.5/588/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2020 EUR 1 999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon 6D Mark II4/5+4/580/1004.5/54/5 Jun 2017 EUR 2 099 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 80D4/5+ +4.5/584/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 EUR 1 285ebay.com
5.
 
Nikon D300S5/5+ +..82/1004/54.5/5 Jul 2009 EUR 1 399ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon D6004/5+ +..87/1005/54.5/5 Sep 2012 EUR 2 149ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon D6104/5+ +..87/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2013 EUR 1 949ebay.com
8.
 
Nikon D7505/5+ +4/590/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 EUR 2 149ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon D71005/5+ +..85/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2013 EUR 1 179ebay.com
10.
 
Nikon D72004/5+ +..84/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2015 EUR 1 179ebay.com
11.
 
Nikon D75004.5/5+ +4.5/586/1005/54.5/5 Apr 2017 EUR 1 499 amazon.com
12.
 
Panasonic G9..+ +5/585/1005/55/5 Nov 2017 EUR 1 699ebay.com
13.
 
Panasonic GH54.5/5+ +..85/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2017 EUR 1 999ebay.com
14.
 
Panasonic GH5 II4.5/5..4.5/585/1004.5/55/5 May 2021 EUR 1 699 amazon.com
15.
 
Panasonic S14.5/5+ +4.5/588/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2019 EUR 2 499 amazon.com
16.
 
Panasonic S5 II4.5/5+ +5/590/1004.5/55/5 Jan 2023 EUR 2 199 amazon.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Nikon D500 vs Panasonic S5

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon D500 Panasonic S5
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Mirrorless system camera
    Camera Lens Nikon F mount lenses Leica L mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2016 September 2020
    Launch Price USD 1,999 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Nikon D500 Panasonic S5
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 23.5 x 15.7 mm 35.6 x 23.8 mm
    Sensor Area 368.95 mm2 847.28 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 28.3 mm 42.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.5x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 20.7 Megapixels 24 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5568 x 3712 pixels 6000 x 4000 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.22 μm 5.94 μm
    Pixel Density 5.60 MP/cm2 2.83 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/30p Video 4K/60p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 51,200 ISO 100 - 51,200 ISO
    ISO Boost 50 - 1,640,000 ISO 50 - 204,800 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED 5 Venus
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 83 94
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 24.0 25.1
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 14.0 14.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 1324 2697
    Screen Specs Nikon D500 Panasonic S5
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100% 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.67x 0.74x
    Viewfinder Resolution 2360k dots
    Top-Level Screen Control Panel no Top Display
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.2inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 2359k dots 1840k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Swivel screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon D500 Panasonic S5
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/8000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 10 shutter flaps/s 7 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy200 000 actuations200 000 actuations
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/8000s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash no On-Board Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC or XQD cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Dual card slots Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-II Single UHS-II
    Connectivity Specs Nikon D500 Panasonic S5
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash PC Sync socket no PC Sync
    USB Connector USB 3.0 USB 3.2
    HDMI Port mini HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port External MIC port External MIC port
    Headphone Socket Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support Bluetooth built-in Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Nikon D500 Panasonic S5
    Environmental SealingWeathersealed bodyWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL15 Panasonic DMW-BLK22
    Battery Life (CIPA)1240 shots per charge440 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging no USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 147 x 115 x 81 mm
    (5.8 x 4.5 x 3.2 in)
    133 x 98 x 82 mm
    (5.2 x 3.9 x 3.2 in)
    Camera Weight 860 g (30.3 oz) 714 g (25.2 oz)
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